Air conditioner



July 28, 1942. w. A. NORRIS AIR CONDITIONER Filed April 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. mm. Nam/s July 28, 1942. w'. A. NORRIS AIR CONDITIONER Filed April 9, 1941 FTlE INVENTOR. mm momma Patented July 28, 1,942

UNHTED STATES RQTFEN? OFFIQE AIR CONDITIONER William A. Norris, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to Otto K. Schuenke, Los Angeles, Calif.

This invention relates to air conditioners.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved air cooler which is particularly adapted for use in the home or office.

The more specific object of the invention is to provide an air cooler including a cabinet with fan and motor therein and wherein novel means is provided for drawing air from beneath a building and discharging it into the building.

Another object of the invention is to provide an evaporative cooler including a novel water absorbing member and a novel mounting therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel evaporative cooler cabinet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation showing an air conditioner embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the air conditioner;

Fig. 3 is a rear view Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the interior of the cabinet;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-45, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail taken on line 1'!, Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9, Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on line lfil0, Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective detail;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on line l2--! 2, Fig. 1 showing the latch;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation showing the latch;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view showing the receptacle, and

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken on line l5i 5, Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings by reference character I have shown my invention as embodied in a cabinet which is indicated generally at 19. As shown the cabinet includes a top H, a bottom I2, and a back l3, an end l4, and a second end I 5. Extending from the end I5 I show a plurality of shelves [6 which permit the air conditioner to be utilized as a bookcase or for other purposes.

Portions of the cabinet extend below the bottom I2 as indicated at I! in Fig. 5 to provide a support and the lower edge of the extending portions includes a U-shaped rubber gasket l8 which prevents injury to the floor on which the cabinet rests and also forms a seal preventing entrance of air.

The cabinet is provided with an aperture E9 in its top and immediately below the aperture I arrange a cruciform member 22! -(see Figs. 5 and 6). The cruciform member is supported on brackets 2| which are secured to the adjacent walls of the cabinet. The brackets extend above the cruciform member as shown in Fig. 5 and serve to support a grill member 22 which includes a frame 23 and inclined louver members 24. The grill member may be lifted from its engagement with the brackets and turned to any position desired thus causing the air passing between the louvers to be directed laterally in any direction from the cabinet. A lid 25 engages the top of the frame 23 and is flush with the top of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 5 so that the cabinet presents an attractive appearance and may serve as a table when the air conditioner is not functioning. The lid is removed when the air conditioner is in use.

The cruciform member 29 as shown in Fig. 11 at its center has a hub 26. Below the cruciform member, I arrange a pair of intersecting strips 26 which include side flanges 21 and end flanges 28. At their intersection the hub 26 and the strips 26' have aligned apertures 29 through which a supporting rod 30 extends. The upper end of this rod is threaded to receive a thumb nut 3|, the release of which permits the rod 35 to be removed. At the lower end of the rod 39, I arrange a head member 32 which engages a washer 33. The rod 30 passes through an aperture in the bottom of a tapered receptacle 34. This receptacle 34 as shown in Figs. 5 and 14 includes a pair of intersecting slots 35 in the bottom 36 thereof.

Arranged about the rod 30, I show a plurality of water absorbing members 31. These members as shown in Fig. 10 have bevelled inner ends 38 which interengage and the lower end of the members 31 are all of reduced width to readily permit insertion in the container 3 3. The lower ends of the members extend into the grooves 35. The upper ends of the members are engaged by strips 26 and by the flanges 21 and 28 previously mentioned and the construction is such that when the members 31 are arranged in the container 34 with the latter suspended by means of the rod 30, the parts are held in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The members 31 are made of suitablewaterabsorbing material, for instance, they may be made of unglazed tile or vitreous material or any material of suitable nature which will cause the members 31 to be wetted throughout their length when the lower ends thereof are inserted in the container 34 and the latter is filled with water to a desired height. To permit circulation through the members 31, the latter are provided with apertures 39 which may be arranged as desired.

The entire assembly of container 34 and members 31 is of such a nature that these parts may be readily removed and replaced when desired for cleaning or other purposes.

Beneath the container 34, I arrange a collar 39 which is arranged coaxial with an inlet aperture 40 in the bottom 12. Across the bottom of the collar 39, I arrange a bracket or spider-like member indicated generally at 41 and which includes a plurality of arms 42 which are connected to brackets 43 on the sides of the collar. The con.- necting means includes rubber shock-absorbin and silencing members 44 and pins 45 which serve to hold the parts assembled. One of the arms 42 includes an end portion 46 which surrounds a motor housing 41. The end of the member is secured by fastening means such as bolts 48 so that the motor housing is tightly clamped and is firmly held in place. A V V The motor 41 includes an armature shaft 49 on which anair impeller or fan 50 is mounted. This fan 50 includes radial blades by means of which air is forced upwardly around the container 34 and over and through the water absorbing members 31 when the motor is operating.

7 bottom, a top, spaced sides, a back and a hinged The cabinet is provided with a closure 54 which is hinged as at 55 and which includes a latch 55. The latch as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 includes a handle 51 having a boss 58 thereon which is recessed to receive a rod 59 to which it is secured by a pin 60. Spacing member 6| surrounds the rod and is held in place by a latch member 62 which receives the rod. A loop 53 is secured in apertures 64 in the latch member. A set screw 65 in the end of the latch member 52 engages the rod 59 and holds the latch member in place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In an evaporative cooler, a cabinet having a front. said top having an opening therein, a bracket secured to each corner of said cabinet, a louvre member in said opening and supported by said bracket immediately below said louvre memher, a cruciform member, said cruciform member having depending flanges thereon supported on said brackets, a hub'at the center of said cruciform member, a rod centrally suspended from said hub, a container secured to the lower end of said rod, a plurality of porous absorption members having their lower ends extending into and engaging said container, a pair of intersecting strips below said cruciform member, said strips having depending flanges thereon and having apertures receiving said rod, said absorption members being engaged at the top thereof by said flanges, said flanges engaging the sides and outermost ends of said absorption members, said supporting strips being secured to said rod, a motor in said cabinet below said containen'said motor having an armature shaft, a fan mounted on said armature-shaft, an .openingin said cab inet bottom and means to close said opening.

WILLIAM'A. NORRIS. 

